Trendspotting at the 2017 TNNA Summer Trade Show

The 2017 TNNA Summer Show returned to Columbus, OH this June, giving attendees a glimpse at what the fiber world has in store for the fall and winter season. It may seem strange to be thinking about warm yarns and snuggly sweaters as summer kicks into high gear, but it’s never too early to start planning for autumn.

Here are some of the top yarn trends spotted while walking the show floor:

Single Ply Yarns

Expect to see a greater variety in yarn weights and fiber content at your LYS this fall, ranging from the popular fingering and sport weight through chunkier options. Color palettes ran the gamut from natural or undyed options (such as Big Montana from Tahki Stacy Charles Yarns, below), to a variety of hand-dyed techniques such as shaded solids, variegated, and speckles (one of the many single ply offerings from Manos del Uruguay, Serpentina, is shown below), to mill-dyed options.

Chunky Knits

Big yarn, big needles, and lots of texture – newer knitters and crocheters seem drawn to these projects which can often be worked up in a matter of hours! Even experienced crafters can’t resist the promise of instant gratification. While most of the options were single ply, new exhibitor Fair Isle Yarn introduced a marled three-ply yarn in their booth (shown below).

Gradient Skeins & Mini Skeins (Still!)

The mania for gradient yarns and mini skeins shows no signs of slowing down, judging by the number of options spotted on the show floor. More than half of the vendors had one or both of these popular options on display, such as the Party of Five gradient kits from Sweet Georgia Yarns (shown below). Mini skein sets in complementary colors (rather than gradients) were also an emerging trend, undoubtedly the result of popular patterns using multiple colors such as the Find Your Fade shawl. We spotted some from Mountain Colors, they introduced more colorways of their popular Perspectives Kits with complementary colors (shown below). 

Fiber Content

Natural yarns and fibers are still all the rage, but many of these offerings had an interesting twist when it comes to the fiber content. Mohair, yak and bison join the cast of luxury fibers such as silk and cashmere which are frequently blended with wools. Breed-specific wools continued their surge in popularity: Mountain Meadow Wool showcased a variety of their fibers (shown below) sourced from local ranches which are then spun into yarn at their mill in Wyoming; Blue Sky Fibers announced American Scenic, a limited edition yarn in collaboration with the Long Island Yarn & Farm company (pictured below).

From Etsy to Exhibition

There was a noticeable increase in the number of indie dyers exhibiting at the show, many of which have previously been spotted on Etsy or at fiber festivals and other yarn events open to the public. LYSOs had ample options to satisfy their customers’ demand for unique hand-dyed yarns in their shops, allowing them see and touch the yarn in person while also enticing new customers into their store. Brew City Yarns, ArtFil, Round Mountain Fibers, and Molly Girl Yarns (shown below) were just a few of the indie dyers newer to the show floor.

Stay up on the trends by listening to our new podcast, Business of Craft, created especially for crafty entrepreneurs. We’re also here to help you develop and market your products; call 719-539-3110 for more information on how Stitchcraft Marketing can help you achieve your business goals, or click here to contact Leanne.